MADELAINE KUKOVICA, 17

Bishop Allen Academy (French Immersion, Psychology, Busi- ness Leadership, Writer’s Craft, Families in Canada, Challenge and Change in Society, Reli- gion); heading to University of Toronto ( languages)

How does one get 100 per cent in English?

A lot of hard work and a lot of motivation.

How do you fuel a study ses- sion?

Lots of snacks, a can-do attitude and a great playlist.

Do friends ask to copy your homework?

No. My friends have the same motivation to succeed, same drive, so we help each other out. We’re proud of each other when we find success and hold each other accountable and push ourselves to reach our individu- al goals.

How much time do you spend on your phone?

Hard to judge. I used FaceTime and Spotify. I found myself not being on social media as much when I had a lot of things to do. One of the key things is staying busy, and not just with school, but with extracurriculars.

What’s been your biggest academic disappointment?

There’s always that test you study for and you don’t reach your goals. I know a lot of peo- ple, their parents put a lot of pressure on them. And I’ve been really lucky that the pres- sure is often internal. My par- ents are supportive and encour- aging, but they don’t ever pres- sure me to get a certain grade. They’re often the ones telling me to put things into perspec- tive.

What do people not understand about top scholars?

Its more about a mindset than an ability. People are quick to just chalk it up to being really smart. But you know, there were a lot of classes I didn’t know much about the subject going in. So smart can only take you so far, and that’s where the importance of being driven and disciplined comes in.